My entire family have adopted/rescued dogs for many years now. My wife and I presently have adopted/rescued 2 dogs, both from the Chester County SPCA (a Springer Spaniel and a Pomeranian). My daughter and her spouse have an adopted/rescued toy poodle and my son and his spouse have 2 adopted/rescued mixed breed dogs.

One of our dogs has a heart murmur and our daughter's toy poodle is totally blind. We each have recently noticed the ever increasing costs involved with private practice vets and have each struggled with these costs which in the future would most likely have resulted in not being in a position to adopt/rescue again! We each recently were made aware of the Chester County SPCA clinic service and have been exceptionally happy with the service as well as the cost. Our faith is renewed that we will be able to continue to adopt/rescue in the future.

We have all found the entire staff to be very helpful and pleasant. In particular I would like to mention Barbara and Dr. Mehalick. After so many years of dealing with private practice vets where the only concern is to drive up the costs of the final bill it was certainly refreshing to meet Dr. M as I fell that she talks 'to you' and not 'at you' and you can certainly feel the concern for your pet not your pocketbook.

All 5 of our adopted/rescued dogs have recently been treated at Chester County SPCA and we all would certainly recommend this facility to others!!

The Friday before Christmas I noticed that my 8 year old female Puggle was bleeding heavily. I took her took our local vet and they told me that she had an infection called pyometria, which results when females dogs are not spayed at a young age. The vet gave me an antibiotic for Hannah and instructed me to call them on Monday if her condition did not improve. Monday came and Hannah was still bleeding and it was heavier than it had been on Friday. I called the local vet and she stated that Hannah would need surgery and that the cost of the surgery would be approximately $1200.00. But before the surgery they wanted to do bloodwork on her to make sure that they were treating her for the right condition and the bloodwork would be about $175.00. I had recently had my hours cut back at work and was living paycheck to paycheck. The vet said this was a life threatening infection and that I should have the surgery as soon as possible. I explained to her that I didn't not have that kind of money on hand and it would take me a few days to see if I could borrow the money from family or friends. I asked her how much time did I have and she said that she wouldn't wait a month but within the next week should be fine. Meanwhile my poor baby is bleeding terribly and you could tell she was not feeling good. I made a few phone calls that morning hoping to find a place that would provide the surgery at a lower price. Every call I made I would get a voicemail and was told that someone would get back to me within 48-72 hours. I found the number for the Chester County SPCA and called there and let a message. At 3 that afternoon I received a phone call from them and I explained the situation to the Tech that returned my call. She relayed the info to the Vet and they said that I need to get Hannah there right away, that this is not something you can put off for a few days. When I asked how much it would cost they told me it would be under $500.00. I took Hannah there after when finished talking. They welcomed Hannah and I as if we were part of their family. Within an hour Hannah's surgery was over and was successful. I was able to take her home with me after she came out of the anesthesia. Dr. Mehalick explained everything that she was going to do prior to the surgery and the vet techs, Barbara and Ofelia kept me updated during the surgery. I was a nervous wreck thinking that I might lose my baby 2 days before Christmas but another vet tech who's name I can't remember sat and talked with me while the surgery was taking place which put me at ease. I am so thankful for the dedication of the staff there. They really showed that they cared about the animals that are brought in the for any reason. I am going to be taking Hannah there for all her care from now own. I have also recommended them to a few friends of mine who have new puppies that need to get there shots and be either spayed or neutered. The Chester County SPCA saved my Hannah's life and I will forever be grateful to them for that.

Several months ago, I stumbled across a colony of about 15 feral cats, mostly kittens. I called several organizations and shelters to try to place these cats. Not knowing anything about feral cats, I was devastated by the cold and heartless responses that I received. When I contacted the local SPCA chapters, only Chester County SPCA provided hope for my cats. I spoke with Dr. Michelle Mehalick, who explained to me the Trap, Nueter, Release Program, and offered help in loaning traps and caring for my cats.

Dr. Mehalick treated my feral cats with love and respect. The entire staff at the Chester County SPCA went out of their way to help our trapping process run smoothly. I am so grateful for this group of caring professionals and would recommend the Chester County SPCA chapter to anyone. My 15 cats are going strong, thanks to this group of people. I have adopted several animals from other places before, but have never encountered such a dynamic group of dedicated, caring professionals.

My dogs were brought here when they ran away and the people were so friendly, that it put my mind at ease to know that they were taken care of. The employees truly care about the well-being of the animals and it shows. I think that it is a great organization.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the CCSPCA several weeks ago and was astonished at the wonderful cheerful atmosphere and the excellent staff - Dr. Mehalick provided superb care for my cat who I feared I may have to euthanize (she is doing very well now- thanks to the SPCA!) - I am amazed at the difference at what is now occurring at the facility and what I have experienced in the past with animal shelters. I hold the facility in the highest regard and wish them the best of luck in the future

I adopted 2 sweet wonderful guinea pigs from the Chester County SPCA after my old GP passed away - they have been great healthy and lovable pets- the staff was very friendly and helpful. I also used the clinic for my cat's yearly exam, bloodwork and vaccines - the prices very affordable and quick service

I am a foster for cats with the CCSPCA and have been been involved in cat rescue for nearly 20 years in the SE PA community. The positive changes in the CCSPCA, especially in the areas of advocacy and programs supporting cats in our community is tremendous. The new management of this shelter is definitely headed in the right direction and I am thrilled to see so much progress

I have adopted two dogs from the Chester County SPCA and have volunteered there stuffing kongs for the dogs in the kennels. I have nothing but good things to say about this facility. It is an open access shelter and those who know anything about open access know that it often translates into a hell for the animals and overwhelming stress for the staff and volunteers. Chester County SPCA has worked very hard to be better than many other open access shelters. It has worked to have aggressive adoption campaigns, partnered with other rescues and the Delaware County SPCA (a no kill but not open access shelter in the neighboring county), and it has programs like "dogs on tour" which introduce its animals to the public at community events. On every occasion I have been at the shelter, I have found the staff to be caring and clearly concerned for the welfare of the animals there. When I adopted my second dog more than two years after adopting the first one, the staff were very helpful in walking the new dog with my resident dog with me around the grounds to make certain that the dogs were compatible. While we were filling out the adoption paperwork afterwards, the kennel manager personally came out to speak with me to give me tips on integrating the new dog into our home with our existing dog. I was especially impressed that he didn't try to candy coat things. He was very clear that I should be prepared for some bumps in the road as the new dog needed time to decompress. His advice was very helpful as we spent the next couple of weeks making our house a true two dog home. When I set up a volunteer event for my daughter's Girl Scout troop there, the volunteer coordinator was wonderful, even staying beyond her scheduled quit time to answer questions and let the girls meet as many dogs and cats as they wanted. She explained to me that her belief is that every bit of extra socialization the animals receive makes them even more adoptable, so she is happy to help when she sees an opportunity for that socialization. A friend of ours who met us at the kennels when we were there meeting our second dog commented that he couldn't believe that the facility was so nice and clean. In short, his comment sums it up. Compared with some of the truly awful open access shelters which exist around the country, the Chester County SPCA is a godsend for these homeless animals. To know that its staff and volunteers are continuing to take steps to improve even more is wonderful.

I have not only adopted from the shelter but have served on several committees over the past 20 plus years I have seen many changes over the years but have never been more excited about the direction the shelter is headed ! So many adoptions have taken place under its new leadership and the volunteers are just as dedicated as ever. I highly recommend the shelter!

Our family has been great supporters of the Chester County SPCA for 3 generations. We are beyond thrilled at the great work being done to promote and support the welfare of the animals of Chester County. The shelter is clean and welcoming and the staff friendly and always helpful. The volunteers go above and beyond to make sure animals are walked and socialized and spend countless hours working with the dogs and cats. The new executive director is working diligently to improve the shelter every day for the welfare of our county's animals. If you haven't been for a visit recently, I encourage you to take a tour, meet the staff and volunteers and witness the good things happening at the shelter each and every day, and who knows..maybe you will take home a new family member!